News Release

Bandelier Visitor Center Reopens July 22, 2023 

Date: July 21, 2023
Contact: Zachary Whitlow, [phone] ext. 1512

Bandelier National Monument will reopen its visitor center to the public at 12:00 p.m. July 22, 2023, and resume guided ranger tours. Out of an abundance of caution, the park immediately closed the visitor center on July 7 after a type of lead oxide (PbO) was discovered in the varnish on some historic furnishings that were undergoing conservation work outside of the park. 

An NPS industrial hygienist conducted a variety of environmental tests and NPS staff underwent blood sampling to determine if there was any threat to employee and visitor health. All tests demonstrated undetectable levels of lead or levels well below the Environmental Protection Agency and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) thresholds for what is considered acceptable. In addition, the levels were all lower than what is seen in the general U.S. population. In consultation with the CDC, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and a U.S. Public Health Service medical doctor, the NPS determined that exposure from this type of lead compound is likely to be minimal and does not pose a health risk.  

At the park’s visitor center, you can talk to a park ranger and plan your visit or watch an introductory film that plays every 20 minutes starting at the top of the hour. There is also a museum inside the building where you can learn about Ancestral Puebloan history and culture. Nearby the visitor center are restrooms and a water refill station. A guided tour of the Pueblo Loop Trail will be offered at 2 p.m. 

Please note that phone lines are currently down, but you can get in touch with us by emailing [e-mail].

To learn more about lead exposure risks, please visit the CDC’s website.